Valle delle Ferriere Nature Reserve Walk
Most visitors to the Amalfi Coast never look up — which means the Valle delle Ferriere, a lush gorge nature reserve beginning just above Atrani and Amalfi, stays blissfully quiet. The trail winds through ancient paper mills, fern-draped ravines and past a series of genuine waterfalls fed by the Canneto river, all within 45 minutes of the seafront.
The Trail Itself
The most rewarding entry point from Atrani is via the stepped path behind the church of San Salvatore de' Birecto — follow signs for 'Valle delle Ferriere' through lemon terraces before the path enters the cool shade of the gorge proper.
After roughly 2 km you reach the ruins of the medieval Cartiera Amalfitana paper mills, where Amalfi once produced some of Europe's finest paper; the stone channels that directed water to the mill wheels are still clearly visible.
Continue another kilometre to reach the main waterfall cascade — a 30-metre drop into a clear pool surrounded by the rare Woodwardia radicans fern, a species that has survived here since the Tertiary period and exists in only a handful of European locations.
Wildlife, Seasons and Practicalities
Spring (April–May) is the best season: the waterfalls are at full force, the air smells of wild herbs and the lemon groves are in blossom; summer is hot and the falls reduce to a trickle by August.
The reserve is home to peregrine falcons nesting on the upper cliffs and, if you walk quietly in the early morning, you may spot a European wildcat — a genuinely rare sighting anywhere in southern Italy.
The path is not paved and involves some boulder-hopping near the falls; trail shoes rather than sandals are strongly advised, and the gorge can be cold even in summer.
More of Atrani
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Atrani →
